On 05/03/13 21:55, Matthew Flaschen wrote:
If it does turn out we legally *need* more license
preservation/disclosure, we should add more license preservation.
Getting a special get out of jail free card for WMF only is not
acceptable. Our sites run free software, software that anyone can also
run under the same (free) licenses.
It may also not be realistic (many authors probably would not
cooperate). But it's something we shouldn't even ask for.
Matt Flaschen
I just checked and there are 73 authors of the resources of MediaWiki
core. More than I expected, but not unworkable. We could relicense our
css and javascript as MIT, MPL, GPL-with-explicit-exception...
Regarding GPL requisites, it seems clear that minified javascript is
“object code” [1], which we can convey per section 6d [2], which is
already possible if you know how the RL works, although we should
probably provide those “clear directions”. Most problematic would be
that you should also obey sections 4 and 5 (although I see a bit of
contradiction there, how are you supposed to “keep intact all notices”
where most notices are present in comments, designed to be stripped when
compiled?)
But are we conveying it?
To “convey” a work means any kind of propagation that
enables other
parties to make or receive copies. Mere interaction with a user
through a computer network, with no transfer of a copy, is not conveying.
As javascript is executed in the client, it probably is.
1- «The “source code” for a work means the preferred form of the work
for making modifications to it. “Object code” means any non-source form
of a work.» - Section 1
2- «Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place
(gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the
Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no
further charge. If the place to copy the object code is a network
server, the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated
by you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities,
provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code saying
where to find the Corresponding Source. (...)»